Instructional Technology Quick Tips--Sound Recording: This quick tip explains how to do simple sound recording using the built in hardware and software that comes with your computer. For more elaborate sound recording you'll want to consider using the loaner digital audio recorder and the faculty multimedia workstation that includes Quick Time Pro and Sound Forge.

Mac sound tools. All Mac computers have the capability to record and play sound files using the Simple Sound recording tool available in the Applications or Apple Extras folders. The Mac recorder saves files in aiff format that can then be converted into other formats, including wave and QT streaming movie formats with QuickTime Pro software.

Windows sound tools. All PCs that have a sound card installed have the capability to record and play sound files with the Sound Recorder found in the standard Windows sound tools--look in the Start/Programs/Accessories/Entertainment directory. The PC recorder usually saves files in the wave format, which can be converted into streaming mov files by QuickTime Pro.

Concern with file formats is important because different formats place different demands on the user?s speed of connection; streaming mov files are more usable for slower connections. (Here's a useful overview of the most common file formats and extensions, including text, audio, graphic and movie formats: LearntheNet.)

To read detailed instructions about using the Mac Simple Sound Recorder download this pdf file, http://facstaff.eou.edu/~jhart/SoundRecMac.pdf; for the PC Sound Recorder download this file, http://facstaff.eou.edu/~jhart/SoundRecPC.pdf; view the files with the Acrobat Reader. (These two documents were constructed using Microsoft Word with an rtf file format to insert screenshots into the documents, then the files were converted to the Acrobat format to get pdf files that preserved the text and graphics while compressing the files to a more manageable level for users with modem connections. E.g. the rtf file SoundRecPC.rtf is 3.3 Mb, but the SoundRecPC.pdf file is only 206 Kb.)

If you have the time and the interest, please do explore using the sound recorder already available on your computer and let me know how it works for you.

If you want to achieve a higher quality sound you can buy an inexpensive external microphone from WalMart for about five to ten dollars rather than using the Apple mini-microphones or built-in microphones that come with portable PCs. (For more Quick Tips see theQuick Tips Archive.)